This document discusses the purpose, organization, governance, and funding of education in the United States. It addresses the structural and financial issues related to public schools and how the economy impacts the education system. The document outlines that states are responsible for the overall organization and operations of public schools, setting standards and providing most of the funding, while local education agencies and school boards handle local governance. Funding comes from federal, state, local, and private sources, with significant disparities between wealthy and poor areas.

1. Education: Purpose,
Organization, Governance, and
Funding – Chapter 10
Ebert, E., & Culyer III, R. (2014). Education: Purpose, Organization,
Governance, and Funding. In School: An introduction to education.
Belmont: Wadsworth.

2. Objectives
• To understand the structural and financial issues related to public
schools
• To evaluate the impact of the economy on the education system

3. In a Nutshell
• We have explored our own school philosophies
• We have discussed and debated our thinking as it relates to the
purpose(s) of school
• We have examined NC school law and ethics
• Let’s continue to examine parts of this giant machine that influence
what is happening in our schools (Remember Bronfenbrenner’s
Ecological Systems Theory, especially the Exosystem and Macrosystem
portions of his theory?)

4. Varying Views
• What do “they” want from education?
• Parents?
• Businesses?
• Educators?
• Short term?
• Long term?
• How are schools structured?
• Generally grades in elementary, intermediate, middle, and high schools
• Early college high schools and CCP (Career and College Promise) also available
in NC
• Rhetorical question – If children already show mastery on pre-tests,
why do they stay in that grade?

5. What’s Offered In NC?
• Loss of developmental appropriateness in early grades
• Emphasis on the mechanics of reading – “Learning to read”
• “Reading to learn” in later grades
• “Standard course of study” vs. “Common Core” vs. “What’s Next”
• Vocational, CTE, Fine Arts, and other electives
• Minimum graduation courses at state level with additional local
requirements
• Opportunities for college credits through CCP (Career and College
Promise), AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International
Baccalaureate) while still in high school

6. School Choice
• Politics of vouchers
• Public Schools
• Traditional
• Magnet
• Charter – many are “for profit” with little oversight of public monies being
used; much more freedom from state requirements
• Virtual Charter has now been approved in NC
• Private Schools
• Homeschools

7. Whose Responsibility?
• States are responsible for the overall organization and operations of
public schools
• Set graduation standards
• Responsible for the greatest portion of the cost
• Evaluates effectiveness of schools and school systems – in NC, the “report
card” system that was used this past year has a 15 point spread for the grades
received by the schools.
• Mandates testing – a huge cost
• Funding has been influenced by various court cases, but high poverty areas
continue to be underfunded

8. Local Structure
• LEA – Local Education Agencies
• School Board – elected representatives who officially do the hiring and firing
• Superintendent – the chief officer and administrator of a school system
• District Personnel – huge part of the bureaucracy; work with superintendent
to establish policy within framework of state and federal guidelines
• Associate Superintendents or similar job titles
• Curriculum Experts
• Financial Personnel
• Human Resources
• School Personnel -
• Principal and assistant principals – establish school policy

9. Who Pays?
• Federal
• School lunch programs
• Head Start
• Title I Schools
• Race to the Top
• Other?
• State
• Greatest share of the budget goes to funding education
• Local
• May provide supplements for teacher pay
• Additional programming, buildings and upkeep

10. Who Pays (cont.)
• Outside businesses and agencies
• Many foundations and businesses provide grants and other supports to
education
• Foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provide funds for
research and strongly influence educational initiatives
• State of the economy strongly influences available $$$
• Tremendous disparity in education funding between wealthy and
poorer areas, whether state by state or within states and
communities